Use the Natural Law template to write about natural phenomena in your world. Remember that if magic is a natural part of the world, it counts as a natural phenomena! So you can use this template to write about anything from weather phenomena to magic systems.
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What should I use this template for?
If you want to write about something that's just about how the world or universe works, use the Natural Law template! The topic of this template is very wide, so here are some examples:
Weather and natural phenomena
Weather patterns, seasons, plate tectonics... all of these are natural laws! You probably won't (and shouldn't) write about every single thing that your readers will already know about. For example, you don't need to write about rain and storms if they're just the same as in the real world. But if they work differently in your world, a Natural Law article is where you want to describe these differences! For some examples in fiction that have a strong influence on the setting, you can look at The Stormlight Archive's highstorms, A Song of Ice and Fire's irregular seasons, and Numenera's Iron Wind.
Magic systems
For us, magic is supernatural. But in a world where magic exists, it's perfectly natural! Therefore, the explanation about how magic works is a Natural Law article. Note that if you want to write about specific magical abilities you should use the Spell template; likewise, use Condition to talk about the thing that makes someone be able to use magic (for example, being Spiderman is a condition because the powers come from being bit by a radioactive spider). But the fundamental laws of magic are... well, Laws! Think about where magic comes from, what are its limits and drawbacks, and what you can do with it.
Time travel and speculative mechanics
Many settings, especially those in the science fiction genre, speculate on how certain things could work. Think time travel, multiverses, the nature of sapience or intelligence, and more. All of this would also be a Natural Law because, just like a magic system, it's a normal part of that universe. For some examples, you can look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe for multiverses, the science of psychohistory in Foundation, and His Dark Materials, where human souls appear as physical manifestations next to them.
Template walkthrough
The Natural Law template is pretty lean and simple. As always, there's a free-writing section at the top (which we call vignette) and the prompts are under the Expand prompts & connections button. Remember that all prompts are optional, and some might not be relevant depending on the type of natural law you're writing about.
It only has two prompts: manifestation and localization. If you need to write about other things that don't fit these prompts, you can use the vignette at the top.
Step-by-step guide to writing a natural law
As you've seen, natural laws are very diverse, and we could write an entire guide for each kind. But here are some basic steps to get you started!
- Start with the themes and tone of your world
When creating a natural law, you're usually changing the fundamentals of the world, so you need to make sure it fits in well with the story you want to tell! For example, in A Song of Ice and Fire, not knowing when winter will come adds to the looming threat of the story (and gives certain characters a pretty cool and iconic catchphrase). - How does it change the world?
Changing the fundamentals of how the world works will have an impact on many aspects of society. For example, if time-travel is possible, how does the world deal with people from other eras popping into existence? Make sure that any changes you make reinforce the themes, plot, and characters of the story you're telling! - What are the specific mechanics and limits?
Yes, that's right, don't think about specifics until now! If you set up a good foundation based on the themes, tone, and plot of your world, you'll make sure that the details about the natural law perfectly fit your setting. If you're creating a magic system, remember that, usually, the limits of the magic system are more interesting than the abilities!
Here's some more advice about natural laws:
Community examples for inspiration
Need some inspiration? Here are some natural law articles written by our amazing community!
